Bacterial Wilt
Pathogen: Ralstonia solanacearum / Erwinia tracheiphila · Affects Tomato, Potato, Banana, Cucurbits
Bacterial wilt is deceptive because the plant can look perfectly hydrated right up until it collapses — the pathogen clogs the vascular system from the inside rather than damaging leaf tissue directly. Once symptoms show, there is no chemical cure, which makes early confirmation and strict sanitation the only real defense.
Symptoms
- Sudden wilting of one side or the whole plant despite moist soil
- Brown vascular discoloration when stem is cut
- Milky bacterial ooze from cut stem placed in water
Causes
- Warm soils (>24 °C) and high moisture
- Spread via infected transplants, cutting tools and root-knot nematode wounds
Treatment
- No effective chemical cure — remove and destroy infected plants
- Solarize soil for 4–6 weeks in the affected bed
- Sterilize tools with 10% bleach between plants
Prevention
- Plant certified clean seed and resistant rootstock
- Rotate with non-solanaceous crops for 4+ years
- Control nematodes to reduce root wounds
Frequently asked questions
Is there a chemical treatment for bacterial wilt?
No effective chemical cure exists once a plant is infected. Management relies on removing infected plants, sanitizing tools, and rotating away from host crops for several years.
How can I quickly confirm bacterial wilt in the field?
Cut a wilting stem and suspend it in a glass of clear water — milky bacterial strands streaming out within a few minutes confirm the diagnosis.
Sanitation & Quarantine
Cultural control that stops soil-borne bacterial and viral pathogens from spreading.
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